david robertson

A more radical diagnostic procedure is simply to bend the reed upward. If it's cracked, it will simply break along the line of the crack.

The first of these, No.27162, is a brass-reeded treble instrument - but please don't let that deter you! These are top-quality Wheatstone brass reeds, not the gappy, breathy things found in low-end Lachenals. In terms of volume and response, they are virtually indistinguishable from steel, and this is as lively an Aeola as has ever passed through my hands. The instrument is amazingly well preserved - all I have had to do is replace the straps and tune it to modern concert pitch. I listed it over a month ago, but in view of the spontaneous outburst of indifference provoked by that listing, here it is again, with the asking price reduced to £3250. The second offering is a 64-key tenor-treble, No.28290.This one has had the more usual "full Monty" restoration - new pads, valves, bushes and straps, re-finished woodwork, a cosmetic bellows rebind, and tuning to modern concert pitch. Now I'm well aware that most people don't lie awake at night wishing they could own a concertina with those extra bat-squeak notes at the top end. But this one is a lovely player, from arguably Wheatstone's top period. And at £3250, I'm actually asking less than you would have to pay for a 56-key of similar quality. If I can tell you more about either instrument, please ask. And as always, if you're within striking distance of Norwich, you're more than welcome to come and have a squeeze. (If you're not, get in touch anyway, and we'll try to arrange something.) concertina-restoration.co.uk

When I buy an Aeola that's more than a century old, the first thing I usually do is to strip out and throw away all the original pads, valves and bushes. Not this time. The condition was so fine and original that I decided conservation rather than restoration should be the approach. The pads were perfectly serviceable, with no sign of the usual insect damage, so I have left well alone. The valves were in similar condition, though I have replaced a handful which had stiffened up with age and were producing an audible slap on closing. I usually like to install new red felt bushes in the button-holes... but in this case I have resisted the temptation, because the original bushes still hold the buttons in a firm embrace, with no trace of a wobble. In fact, my only interventions have been to replace the slightly shabby original straps, and to tune the instrument to modern concert pitch - and even that was not a major task, since it was tuned approximately 15 cents flat throughout, rather than the usual 50 cents sharp. One more thing. When I first took an end off this instrument, I was astonished to find it had brass reeds. Astonished, because in terms of volume and response, it is the equal of any steel-reeded Aeola that has ever passed through my hands. I'm sure you won't be disappointed. I'm asking £3250 for this one. And as always, if you're within striking distance of Norwich, you're more than welcome to come and have a squeeze.

I recently acquired this pretty little English treble... presumably by one of the minor makers, but which one? It has delicate German silver corner inlays, and all the corners are brass bound. The bellows papers are the gold & cream "3 daisies" pattern, the reed tongues are riveted rather than clamped, and the riveted action features slotted cylindrical pivot posts. All suggestions gratefully received.

This is a vintage Crabb (Geoffrey confirms it was made by his grandfather in 1911) sold by the major London music retailer Ball Beavon, whose stamp appears on the action box frame. It has the standard Crabb layout, with a C drone on the left hand. I have made and fitted new 7-fold bellows... the original 6-fold set was in as sorry a state as I have ever seen: someone had tried to make them useable by lining them with a plastic bag! In addition, I have renewed all pads, valves, bushes and straps, and tuned it to modern concert pitch. Cosmetically, the ends are not the finest. They have lost their youthful sparkle, and they show some light pitting, so for that reason I am not asking top dollar. But if performance is more important to you than pristine appearance, then this could be the one. Price: £3450

Thank you so much, Geoff. Stupid of me, but because of that blank cartouche, I hadn't even looked at your records! Thanks again, David

I wonder if I might beg a bit of help with identifying this one? It has Crabb/Jeffries style fretwork, gold tooling and papers, but is unmarked apart from the serial number 8863. I wondered if it might be an early George Jones, but it lacks the typical keyhole-shaped pivot posts. These are quite slim, and unusually sharp-pointed. The bush-boards, too, are cut out much more neatly than anything I have ever seen in a vintage Crabb or Jeffries. It's clearly an instrument of some quality, though the condition is not so much distressed as suicidal. It's the first time I've ever seen an attempt to save completely wrecked bellows by lining them with a plastic bag! Any ideas as to its origins will be most gratefully received.

Now sold via my website.

This is a late Lachenal (the Erinoid buttons weren't introduced until the late 20's, so we can assume it was produced in the last few years before the company ceased trading). The extra buttons, by the way, are all useful, useable notes, with none of the silly whistles and squeakers that infest many bigger Lachenal Anglo's. It also, unusually, has all-black 7-fold bellows, which I'm pretty sure are original. In any case, the instrument has obviously not led a hard life. I'm guessing that someone bought it around 1930, spent several months trying to master it, and then decided he had better stick with the tambourine after all. The rosewood ends are undamaged - my only intervention in that department has been to ream out and bush the button-holes - and the reeds are exceptionally clean and rust-free. With new pads, valves, dampers, bushes and straps, and tuned to modern concert pitch, it is fast, loud and agile, and a good deal more versatile than a standard 30-key. Price: £1850

The glass rod is set into a brass ferrule, and the combination is much sturdier than Wheatstone's wooden-cored buttons. As for the weight, Robert, I suppose they may be marginally heavier than the usual Edeophone hollow metal buttons. Out of idle curiosity, I weighed a bunch of metal ones, which come in at 1.36g each, or 76.2g for a set of 56. If we assume the glass buttons are 10% heavier, the difference is less than the weight of an English pound coin! The whole instrument, by the way, enters the ring at 1.27kg. For comparison purposes, my Jeffries, with 17 fewer buttons, weighs in at just over 1.5kg. No wonder I feel tired all the time!

A beautiful example of an extended treble Edeophone - Mr Lachenal's top model, with the rare riveted action and the even rarer glass buttons. It also comes with its original leather case in serviceable condition. I'm selling it on behalf of a regular customer... a man with an eye for a bargain! When he bought it about 40% of the fretwork on both ends was missing. But behind that damaged facade lurked a lovely, unmolested instrument, and now, with all fretwork restored, plus new pads, valves and bushes, and re-tuning to modern concert pitch, it's a little cracker! Remarkably rapid and responsive, with a lovely wooden-ended tone, it's a joy to play. Price: £2300

This is a bit of a long shot, but I wonder if anyone out there in the concertina community knows Richard Bird and/or his wife Chris? He plays a 45k Jeffries, which is currently sitting on my shelf, with restoration almost complete. Here's the problem: I stupidly omitted to take his phone number, and I'm getting no reply to copious emails. So if anyone has his contact details, I'd be very grateful if you'd share them with me, or give him a nudge to contact me.

Many thanks for that, Paul. It's obvious from the reedpan layout that there wouldn't be room for another chamber. Still, I'd have thought the path of least resistance might have been simply to leave out the thumb button completely!

On my bench at the moment is a 46k Jeffries Anglo. While mapping the layout, I noticed that on the left hand, the 4th button on the innermost row and the single outlier button both play F4/C4. And when I opened it up, I discovered why: both buttons operate on the same pair of reeds! This is not an arrangement I've come across before, and I'm having trouble imagining a reason for it. Any ideas?

Congratulations... enjoy!